Border Security in the Al-Qaeda Era

The events of 9/11 and other ongoing terrorist threats have taken interest in national security and border security to a heightened level of concern. An exploration of the trends and transformation of border security in the aftermath of 9/11, Border Security in the Al-Qaeda Era presents one of the first comprehensive analyses of not only the impact and consequence of 9/11 on border security but also its effects within the broader international context.

Featuring contributions by an array of international experts, this volume explores border security in nine countries, ranging from those with conventional practices to those with approaches that represent the antithesis of the western world. It compares security measures in countries identified by Osama bin Laden in the post-9/11 era as potential targets for attack with a few that were not directly identified. For each country profiled, the authors provide, among other information:

• An overview of the history of terrorism and the extent of any suspected terrorist activity since 9/11
• The definition of terrorism
• A description of how terrorist data is handled by border security
• An overview of border security operations
• The impact of changes to border security on the movement of citizens, goods, and foreigners
• Steps taken to improve national security and the impact on citizens
• The impact of border security changes on the sense of sovereignty

While many of the challenges each country faces are similar, the authors demonstrate that there are differing approaches given the history, culture, geography, and politics of the various countries profiled. Steeped in the knowledge of scholars from the countries represented, this volume puts a criminological focus on border security and its role in the context of counterterrorism. This information can then be used to develop more effective border security reforms.